Traditionally applied to the British serpent, as distinguished from the poisonous adder. Meaning "treacherous person" first recorded 1580s (cf. Old Church Slavonic gadu "reptile," gadinu "foul, hateful"). Applied from 17c. to various snake-like devices and appliances. Snakes! as an exclamation is from 1839.

Snake eyes in crap-shooting sense is from 1919. Snake oil is from 1927. Snake-bitten "unlucky" is sports slang from 1957, from a literal sense, perhaps suggesting one doomed by being poisoned. The game of Snakes and Ladders is attested from 1907. Snake charmer is from 1813. Snake pit is from 1883, as a supposed primitive test of truth or courage; figurative sense is from 1941. Phrase snake in the grass is from Virgil's Latet anguis in herba [Ecl. III:93].

Example Sentences for snakelike

Snakelike he had cast his slough, and rejoiced in new and brilliant investiture.

Now and then her figure writhed with a slow, snakelike motion.

There was something venomous and snakelike in the boy's black eyes.

Down the corridor into which he crept, snakelike on his belly, red light flickered from an open door.

They will have smiled at his childish tempers, applauded his snakelike cunning, and laughed outright at his heathen superstitions.

Tendrils projected from all parts of it, pallid and twisting lengths that writhed slowly with snakelike life.

Snakelike amphibians, some fishlike, some lizard-like, and huge crocodilian forms appeared for the first time.

Holding the snakelike coil in both hands as in an iron vise, he tore the chain apart with a masterly jerk.

Then she moved away a little, and reared her pretty back with a curious, snakelike motion.

Her eyes fell upon a wriggling, snakelike thing that lay in this path of light.